Rib-holding device for umbrellas.



A. LAWNIN. RIB HOLDING DEVICE FOR UMBRELLAS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1912.

Patented Mar.25,1913.

Missal; Qgm=QWJZ= D g 3,425

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT w. Lawns, or ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR 0E ONE-TiHIRb To LOUIS 1). LAWNIN, 0E EDWARDSVILLE; ILLINOIS.

RTE-HOLDING DEVICE FOR uMBEELLAs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 1, 19'12.

Patented Mar. 25,1913.

Serial No; 706,886.

a citizen of the United States of America,

and a resident of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rib-Holding Devices for Umbrellas, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification. i

My invention relates to a device in the form of a plain strap or band provided with means whereby it may be readily applied intermediate of its ends to one of the ribs of an ordinary umbrella, and embrace all of the ribs collectively when the umbrella is closed to hold them in close arrangement around the staff of the umbrella.

Figure I is an elevation of a portion of an umbrella and one of my devices applied thereto as it appears in service. Fig. II is a cross section taken approximately on line II-II, Fig. I; Fig. III is a perspective view of my device as it appears when unattached to an umbrella.

In the accompanying drawings :A designates the handle of an umbrella, B the unibrella staff, and C the ribs of the umbrella, provided at their free ends with the usual knobs D.

My rib holding device comprises a strap 1, having thickened ends and furnished with means intermediate of its ends providing for the connection of the strap to one of the ribs of an umbrella, and also provided with means whereby the ends of the strap may be connected to each other when the strap e11- circles the umbrella ribs collectively, for the purpose of retaining them in close as semblage around the umbrella staff. It will be readily apparent that by producing a device of this description, such device may be applied to one of the umbrella ribs in a manner to be retained thereon when the umbrella is open as well as when it is closed; and, furthermore, that the device provides for the entire set of ribs being embraced by it by the very simple action of drawing it around the ribs and connecting its ends.

The strap of my deviceis preferably of elastic material, such as rubber, in order that it may be stretched when placing it around the series of umbrella ribs; and I will, without limiting myself to making such strap of elastic material, describe it as made of material of this description when constructed in accordance with the accompanying drawings.

1 designates the strap of my device, which is of a single piece of rubber having thickened ends, and is provided intermediate of its ends with an eye 2, preferably formed integral, with said strap and of the same material. This eye is adapted to be fitted to one of the ribs of an umbrella thatis to be equipped with my rib holding device, and it will be obvious that when said eye is threaded onto the rib that receives it by passing it first over the knob of the rib, it will tightly hug such rib to prevent its displacement therefrom.

At one end of the strap 1 is a hook 3, and at the opposite end of said strap is an eye 4, which are adapted to engage each other and connect the ends of the strap when it is placed in encircling position around the ribs that are'to be embraced thereby. When the strap 1 is made of rubber, the shanks of the hook and eye are embedded in the strap and, consequently, when the rubber from which the strap is made is vulcanized, the hook and eye are firmly secured to the strap and will retain their ositions when the ends of the strap are conifected by said members for the purpose of holding the ribs of the umbrella encircled thereby.

It is evident that various other materials than rubber might be utilized for the production of my device and that the strap 1 might be made only partly of elastic material to afford desired elasticity, or that unelastic material might be utilized for the production of the strap, althoughI prefer to make such strap either wholly or partly of elastic material, in order that it will hug more closely around the umbrella ribs encircled thereby. It is further obvious that means of fastening other than the hook and eye illustrated might be utilized. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the specific construction of fastening device illustrated in the drawings and herein described.

I claim 1. A rib holding device for umbrellas comprising a plain flexible strap adapted to encircle the free ends of the ribs beneath the knobs and formed with an eye projection intermediate of its ends adapted to receive the free end of a rib and seat beneath its knob and means for fastening the ends of knob and also formed with thickened ends, 10 the strap together and the strap around the a hook inserted in one thickened end and a rib ends. hook-eye inserted in the other thickened end 2. A rib holding device for umbrellas comfor fastening the ends of the strap together 5 prising a plain flexible strap adapted to enand the strap around the rib ends.

circle the free ends of the ribs beneath the A. W. LAWNIN. knobs and formed with an eye-projection In the presence ofintermediate of its ends adapted to receive A. J. MGCAULEY,

the free end of a rib and seat beneath its E. B. LINN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. (1.- 

